Style, Sex, and Substance: It’s a launch week scramble and giveaway [UPDATED]
UPDATE (3/5): The book has sold out on Amazon. I’m told there are still some copies available directly from the publisher here, and they’re getting more as fast as they can. Because of the delay, I’m extending the giveaway deadline to Wednesday, 3/14.
———————————-
I sat down at my computer this morning to write a nice, leisurely post while sipping my coffee, only to find out that Amazon has started shipping Sex, Style, and Substance two days earlier than we expected. So I promptly spit out my coffee and began frantically typing. Let’s begin with the links to where you can get it. Here you go:
- You can buy the paperback version here
- You can buy the Kindle version here (currently discounted to be under $10)
Who’s up for a giveaway?
We’ve been working on this book for months, and now that it’s finally out, I’m in the mood to celebrate. I’m going to do a small giveaway with five winners: one will get a $25 Amazon gift card + a bookplate signed by all 10 authors, and four other people will get the signed bookplate. Here are the details:
- To enter, just leave a comment to this post.
- This is open to anyone who buys the book any time before Sunday, March 11, so if you pre-ordered, you’re eligible too!
- You don’t need to show any proof of purchase to enter; I’ll just ask that the winners have some kind of receipt-like thing showing they bought it on or before March 11.
- The giveaway will close this Sunday, March 11, at midnight.
(By the way: imagine, if you will, the logistical effort that would be involved with getting 10 women scattered all over the country to get pen-and-ink signatures onto the same document. Now multiply that by a thousand, and you have some idea. Which is to say: these bookplates are EXTREMELY VALUABLE.)
Why I think you’ll like it
This really is a fun book. It’s not meant to be a purely “Christian inspiration” style book that focuses only on the positive aspects of Catholic life; rather, it’s an informal, often funny, collection in which 10 women each take one area of life (marriage, sex, motherhood, the single life, etc.) and share their personal struggles, as well as what they’ve learned about how to make it all work.
Allow me to introduce you to my fellow contributors:
![author banner lg Style, Sex, and Substance: Its a launch week scramble and giveaway [UPDATED]](http://www.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/author-banner-lg.jpg "author-banner-lg")
- Hallie Lord: Chief mastermind behind the book; professional style consultant; also known as Betty Beguiles.
- Danielle Bean: Author of a bunch of books that Catholic women are required by law to own; editor-in-chief of Catholic digest; homeschooling mother of eight; blogs at DanielleBean.com.
- Anna Mitchell: News director for the EWTN Radio network; my cohort in the children’s book series on the SonRise morning show; freelance writer.
- Rachel Balducci: Mom of five boys (and, finally, one girl!); author of the collection of humor essays How Do You Tuck in a Superhero?; blogs at Testosterhome.
- Simcha Fisher: Voted funniest blogger in the Catholic New Media awards; writer for the National Catholic Register; author of that “to the mother of only one child” post that every female on the planet read a few weeks ago; blogs at I Have to Sit Down.
- Betty Duffy: Columnist for Patheos; writer of deep thoughts; blogs at bettyduffy.blogspot.com.
- Barbara Nicolosi: Screenwriter; author; professor; tireless advocate for the return of beauty to Christian art.
- Karen Edmisten: Author of multiple excellent books; host of Poetry Friday; atheist-to-Catholic convert; blogs at karenedmisten.blogspot.com.
- Rebecca Teti: Former lobbyist; freelance writer; mom of four; masters in Political Theory; writes for Faith & Family.
Some excerpts
Here are excerpts from some of the chapters:
Rebecca Teti on work:
To cite a silly example, when I first converted and was eager to “learn the ropes” of my newfound faith, it happened that three of the most faithful Catholic women I knew were much “girlier” than I was or am. They wore a lot of pink, and any time a faculty member turned up on our university campus with a baby in tow, my friends would squeal and coo and fuss over him as some women will. They seemed moved by an inner prompting not entirely within their control to squeeze and cuddle any child they ever saw. I had no hang-ups about babies, but I did not share this urge myself.
In all the wisdom and experience of my nineteen years (and a few whole months of Catholicism!), I saw all the women around me behave this way and, comparing their effusive affection with my reserved heart, concluded that I wasn’t feminine and wasn’t up to motherhood.
I carried this notion that I did not and could not measure up to what the Church expected of me as an unspoken wound in my heart for a long while, until a year spent teaching first-graders in Rome uncovered and developed my rapport with naughty little boys. What a relief to learn I was not a failure as a woman (at the ripe age of twenty-one), but simply had yet to discover my personal way of incarnating the vocation to womanhood.
Simcha Fisher on motherhood:
O modern woman, does the idea of receptivity make you a little itchy? You’re all in favor of the motherly virtues of strength and wisdom, good council and courage—all very valiant, very Joan of Arc. But receptivity? Isn’t that kind of…passive? Don’t you just imagine a reclining reed of a woman, her tentative profile framed in lace, trembling among the potted ferns as she waits for Life to happen to her?
I know: That’s not you. Even if such an image appeals to your romantic side, a soft fantasy like this comes rapidly unstuffed the first time you’re up all night wrestling among milky sheets with a baby who is as hungry as three frantic wolves, but somehow can’t figure out, after all this time, how to find the nipple. And when the sun rises on your sleepless face, you’re still supposed to get up and do stuff. Poof go the last feathery rags of that gentle mist of motherhood, and “Howdy!” barks the harsh, daylight reality of your new life as Mom.
Barbara Nicolosi on engaging the culture:
Serious Christians need to experience the cultural arena not as fans but as apostles. We should be brooding over today’s art and stories as signs of the times, not simply absorbing them like sponges. We have to fortify ourselves spiritually, philosophically, and ethically, so that we can enter into the cultural climate the way a doctor enters into a hospital. If we shun the hospital because there is some sickness there, it means that some of the souls entrusted to us will die.
But here’s the real rub: If we avoid the hospital, we will also die, because we aren’t just doctors to the times, we are also patients. We need the divinely inspired prophecy that all the modern popes have assured us comes through the arts. Just as much as our pagan neighbors, we need stories to lead us to wonder, hope, and compunction. If, in an effort to be safe from the corruption of modernity, we cut today’s stories out of our lives, we cut out the normal channel in which God helps human beings grow in psychological, emotional, moral, and intellectual depth and sensitivity.
Here’s the Amazon link again. I can’t wait to hear what you think. And as soon as you get your copy, don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
For your convenience, you can have each Conversion Diary post delivered on a feed reader or by email.
I would love to win this, congratulations on your new book.
Denise
mommiesmemorie@yahoo.com
I can not WAIT to read this book. Sometimes I feel so alone in what are obviously OUR beliefs. Sigh. THANK YOU, and the other authors (whom I am now stalking also) for putting this book together. Strong Catholic Women UNITE!!!
*cough cough* I may need to get out more. At least my kids are cute.
Kaitlin recently posted..Listening to God – Listen
PS please enter me in your drawing!
Kaitlin recently posted..Listening to God – Listen
I would love win this! Thanks for the giveaway!
Already ordered mine on Amazon! So excited.
I could definitely use more substance.
bearing recently posted..Sunday morning goetta.
Looking forward to reading it!
Kicking myself for not pre-ordering. Hoping it doesn’t sell out!
Thanks for the giveaway. I pre-ordered it last week, so I should be getting it soon!
Please enter me in! I didn’t even know this book was coming out (or being made b/c I’m that out of the loop!) and it looks like a great read!
Jennifer H recently posted..The Difference Between Boys and Girls
I ordered it, I am commenting, but I don’t know how to do a receipt thing. What if I quote from the book when I get it? What if I take a picture of my “writing space” with the book showing? What if I just tell you that I have ordered it? What if I SEND you the book and ask you to autograph it? I want to make sure that I am entered in the contest.
Looking forward to reading the book — loved the excerpts so far! Congrats!
Hoping to read this with my book club! I’m expecting my first child in late July (actually have our first ultrasound this afternoon), so I’m so excited to learn more!
I just bought the book today. Can’t wait to read it!!
I pre-ordered one for myself and one for my daughter! Do I get two chances?
Amazon sent me a note saying my book will be delivered on Thur, Mar. 8th! Can’t wait!
Kimberlie recently posted..Suffering
I’m hooked! Ordering it today!
Christy recently posted..Monday Pick-Me-Up
This looks like a must-read for me and my daughters! Don’t care if I win or not; once this book is in my hands, I’ll be happily reading it and that feels as good as winning about anything.
Thanks for the giveaway! I ordered mine a while ago, and can’t wait to get my hands on it
Ordered my copy last week-and can’t wait for it!
Thanks! I would love anything signed by Rebecca Teti!
I pre-ordered mine a few days ago! So excited!
waiting for my copy!! I chose to do Kindle so I could get it faster. (yes I live in a fast food nation!)
I’m in! I’m loving the thought of reading thoughts from all these good Catholic woman!
I ordered two for friends and one for myself. I saw they shipped today! I’m so excited to get my copy and excited to surprise my friends!
Just bought it on Kindle! If I will I’ll buy a few copies for my friends!
Please sign me up! Can’t wait to read it! So glad it comes for kindle!!
I want this book! Looking forward to reading chapters from some of my favorite authors. Long live the strong Catholic woman!
Hope to do this for bookclub!
I just purchased a copy for my Nook – hope that counts too!!
I bought a Nook copy. Sign me up for the giveaway!!
Is the kindle version transferrable to iPad? I’m new to the electronic version of reading!!!!
When my baby was born 3 months ago I received an amazon gift card with the request that I use it to buy a book to read while I breastfeed. I used it immediately to pre-order this book and I am so excited that it is coming soon.
I just received an email from Amazon saying my copy of the book has shipped…hooray!!!!!
I am a single person, but would love to win this! I know there are chapters I could benefit from.
I’d love to win a copy of this book! I can’t afford to buy it right now.
Beth Anne @ The Catholic Couponer Blog recently posted..Lenten Meal Plan Monday Link-up – 2nd Week of Lent
Just bought a copy for my wife.
It appears, based on the comments so far, that I may be the only male to buy this book. =)
wewh recently posted..After the American Dream
Hope I win, it looks like an awesome read!
That’s the good thing about ordering for my kindle: I could stay up and read it at 12:01 am!
…you know, if I didn’t have to be up at 5 for work tomorrow.
-Ashley
Ashley recently posted..Sunday Best: Pearls
It would be wonderful to win! I’m so glad to have pre-ordered a couple of weeks ago.
I should have pre-ordered this book too…oops….maybe i’ll win!
Looking forward to reading it once it is available!
Can’t wait to read it and am so excited it shipped early… you may be stalked by a few of us at the Behold Conference for a signature (if its delivered before Friday), so consider yourself forewarned
Woo-hoo! Amazon told me I’ll get my kindle version of the book tomorrow! Psyched for you, the other contributors & for myself! Thanks for the bonus of giveaways!
I just noticed that my book shipped! Yippee! Please enter me in the giveaways!
Dreena Tischler recently posted..The Singing Bowl
I’ve preordered mine and I can’t wait to get it!
Looks like something I would enjoy reading!
I can’t wait to read the book. I have been following the blogs of several of the women. Everything I ‘ve been reading has been like another gulp of much needed oxygen. I am currently a missionary in Taiwan, and with the humidity and the pollution, added to my underlying daily challenge to trust in God’s plan and providence, it is quite hard to just breath here sometimes. He always comes through though—and with incredible flying colors which is one of the reasons we are still here. Thanks for brightnening up many of my days.
Anne
Just pre-ordered it on my kindle! I cannot wait to read this gem! Gooooo Catholic women folks!
I’m in … wondering if this might be a good “one parish, one book” read!
I ordered mine a few days ago. Congratulations on getting it out! (Looking forward to your book, too…)
Thank you for promoting this book! As a “Loud, Proud Catholic Woman” (this was the cool phrase found on a pin my daughter bought at a flea market several years ago)and after reading the selections, I am really looking forward to ordering this book.
I can’t wait to read this book!!
Thanks for the reminder Jen! I pre-ordered my book thru Kindle and it’s supposed to arrive tomorrow. Can’t wait!
Please enter me in the drawing! I’ve recently subscribed to your blog’s feed, and I’d love to read more! God bless! Megan
I’d really love to win! Got it on Kindle.
I can’t wait with the near March 11 give away, I think I can be one that beautiful face contributors…
Cley recently posted..cheap 1300 numbers
I love this!
It’s really my pleasure of joining this and hopefully win this! Thank you for being so generous.. Kudos!
Wynona recently posted..Unlock iPhone 4
Oh, yes, I want to win!!! Lesson learned in not pre-ordering.
I ordered this morning, Amazon says ten bazillion other people are in line ahead of me, and I have to wait, but I ORDERED!!
Can’t wait until it comes…and can’t wait to win that awesome bookplate to stick in the front.
I preordered my copy last week- can’t wait to get it! Please enter me in your drawing! Blessings to you & your family-
I just ordered my copy.
Congratulations on “selling out!”
I wanna win!!!
How do I get a copy signed by all the contributors for my wife Kim? I heard about it from The Son Rise Morning Show this morning when Brian and Anna were talking about it. I was a few years ahead of Rachel in school. Thank you for writing this book! Thank you and God Bless. Bill Mance
I got my email from Amazon this morning that my copy shipped. Can’t wait to read it!
I just ordered it on my Kindle! Thanks for the chance to win and your constant witness to the Catholic Faith!!
Katie
Katie recently posted..My first 7 Quick Takes!! on Friday
Congrats, I ordered a kindle version, looking forward to reading. Keep up the good works ladies.
I had read about this book before and forgot to order a copy. I come back to the blog today to get the title so I can buy it on Amazon and I see a giveaway…. How amazing!!!
i’m very excited to get my hands on a copy!!!
Preordered it last week….the excerps had me laughing too hard to not order it….I also now have so many more catholic bloggers to stalk, hahah
Wow! Congratulations on the sell-out!
The way you get a book plate (a sticker that goes in the front of the book that usually says something like “This book belongs to….”) signed by all the contributors is to win this giveaway. Who wins is in God’s hands. The only way that I know of to get an actual book signed by all the contributors is to buy a book, then travel around the country, taking the book first to one, then another. It would be an exciting adventure, and then you could write a book about it, which we would all want to read.
Or you could enlist the aid of the US mail system. Which would not be such an adventure. If you do that, make sure that you make it VERY EASY for the writers to return the book to you after they have signed it. I don’t think that they have a mailing department.
I’m really looking forward to the book – I’ve enjoyed reading the blog in the last year and I recommend it to all my friends. Most recently I told a friend who is moving to Arizona that if she reads your blog, she’ll find a kindred spirit when it comes to scorpions.
I would love one! Thanks!
love everything you do, so i know i will love the book!!!!
Ordered book, please enter me in your giveaway.
I just ordered your book via Kindle download and I can’t WAIT to jump into it. It seems like a refreshing take on Catholic life. I love that it is written by so many talented women! Thank you for this giveaway!
Please enter me in your giveaway. =)